Confirmed: Derry to have five major Ebrington events in 2024

Derry City and Strabane District Council will assume a programming role for future events in Derry’s Ebrington Square.

This new arrangement will apply to five major events in 2024, the number currently permitted on the site under existing legal constraints.

Council’s role in Ebrington was agreed at a special meeting of its Business and Culture committee on Friday (October 20, 2023).

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It followed an informal briefing of councillors and MLAs on Monday regarding the Ebrington Square situation. 

The matter will now be discussed at Council’s October plenary meeting on Wednesday (October 25). 

The intense Council activity around the future of Ebrington Square followed a motion to council which “reaffirmed Council commitment to the transfer of Ebrington as soon as is practicably possible and tasked officers with urgently engaging with The Executive Office (TEO) so Council could provide the management and oversight function of sustainable and cost-effective events” at the square.

Council also “recognised the value events bring to the city and district and committed to working with all relevant partners to ensure every avenue is explored to bring events to Ebrington Square in 2024”.

In addition, there is an ongoing weekly protest in Ebrington Square organised by ‘Your Ebrington’ the local group, which is campaigning for the reinstatement of events in the Square. 

The protest is in response to the cancellation  of a number of events in the Square during the summer and the revelation that a number of organisations received settlements from TEO as a result. 

Cullen’s Funfair received £50k which was in part to compensate for their events in 2023 and 2024 taking place on a smaller space, in the rear car park reflecting their reduced income.

Robert Allen/Connected Festival, received a settlement of £80k to compensate for the loss of sales and reinstating services within a short timeframe, resulting in increased costs and in respect of his agreement to withdraw his application to hold events on Ebrington Square in 2024.

Ebrington Hotel, received an ex-gratia payment of £150k (inclusive of legal costs) in full and final settlement of any claim howsoever arising between themselves and TEO in respect of the events / events and licensing process for August 5 to 6 and August 24 to 27, 2023. 

The ‘Council Support for Events at Ebrington’ report discussed on Friday said TEO and Council “recognise the need for a comprehensive events and management strategy for the overall Ebrington site in the longer term”. It also recognises “there is a need for proper engagement with all stakeholders”.

It stated: “In order to be able to support events for 2024, Council officers have agreed with TEO to support them with a process which will allow for up to five major events to take place at Ebrington in 2024. 

“This process will relate to large scale events which require an entertainment licence.”

Speaking at the Business and Culture committee meeting, Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP) welcomed the move.

He said: “There has been widespread frustration and widespread anger right across the city when news broke that there weren’t going to be any concerts at Ebrington in the summer. It was totally understandable and justified. 

“It was a ridiculous situation that we’ve got a perfect concert venue at Ebrington that wasn’t going to be allowed to be used for concerts next summer. 

“The decision made absolutely no sense. I am thankful to the team in Council who worked at pace to get this sorted.

“We are here today with a proposal that means that Ebrington can be used for events next summer and people right across the city and district can go and enjoy themselves and we can attract visitors from outside the city. It is good, positive news.

“We want to see Ebrington grow and we want to see it thrive and we want to see it as a venue of choice for music promoters and a destination of choice for music lovers,” said Cllr Farrell. 

Council also agreed to a proposal by Cllr Paul Gallagher (Independent) that an Ebrington Working Group be established. His proposal was seconded by Cllr Farrell.

Speaking to Derry Now following the Business and Culture committee meeting, a spokesperson for ‘Your Ebrington’ said they were “delighted” there would be the space for event promoters to bid for five events next year. 

The spokesperson added: “As a short-term solution, we accept fully that this is just a plan for now. 

“We need to ensure that, going forward, we continue to put pressure on Council and The Executive Office, to see more events being held in the Square because this win is evidence the pressure of campaigning works."

"We remain very concerned about the legal implications that restrict events to five per year at present explained by Council officers as a historical pledge included in tenant leases. 

“No-one consulted the people of this city, to whom the site was gifted, about how many events could take place in the Square and this must be done going forward,” said the Your Ebrington spokesperson.

Your Ebrington added that Council and TEO had met with businesses in Ebrington informally this week and a working group was to be created to continue that process.

“However, not one hand has been reached out by Council or TEO to local people who have been advocating for the return of events to the city,” said the spokesperson.

“Whilst we acknowledge that the tenants in Ebrington should have a say, it's really important to say that the needs of tenants cannot be prioritised over the cultural needs of our citizens. 

"Our scheduled weekly rally will take place as usual tomorrow Saturday, October 21 at Ebrington. We will brief our campaign supporters of the new arrangement for 2024 and highlight the issues we still feel will be important to keep an eye on over the coming months. 

“But ultimately this is a win for the people of this city and proof that people power works!"